Latest Holocene Glacier Modeling

Project description

In this project we are employing a simple glacier model constrained by observational data to reconstruct both glacier fluctuations and the associated climate changes over the last 2,000 years for a glacier in the Canadian Arctic

Objectives

The main objectives are to faithfully reconstruct observed glacier fluctuations and determine the required climate changes needed over the last 2,000 years.

Time-line

Fall 2016 - Ongoing

Models in use

User developed 2D finite-element numerical glacial model driven by a climate defined by the Positive Degree Day (PDD) method and allowing for Solar insulation induced melt.

Results

Thus far we have determined that at our glacier location on Baffin Island, since accumulation rates are quite small, solar input is an important factor in determining melt. We have also preliminarily found that the region experienced at least ~0.5C of cooling over the last 2000 years followed by significant (2-3C) warming over the past century.

Users

Simon Pendleton, INSTAAR/Dept. of Geologic Sciences

Funding

Funding Provided in part by NSF Award # 1204096

Publications and presentations

Manuscript under progress and presentation at GSA 2016

HPCCprojects:Latest Holocene Glacier Modeling